Connolly makes Australia’s T20 WC squad as Owen misses out as trio of Cummins, Hazlewood, and David have all been included.
Cooper Connolly, an all-rounder, has been added to Australia’s team for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which begins next month. Mitchell Owen and Ben Dwarshuis have been left out.
Connolly, a left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner, did not play in the series against South Africa, New Zealand, or India last year. He has only played in six Twenty20 Internationals, batting just twice and taking one wicket. However, he has made an outstanding start to the BBL for Perth Scorchers, scoring 170 runs at a strike rate of 166.66 and taking five wickets at an economy of 7.62. Alongside Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann, and Glenn Maxwell, he gives the team an additional spin option.
Pat Cummins has been added, as head coach Andrew McDonald noted earlier this week, although his participation will depend on a scan at the end of January to evaluate his back following his lone performance during the ongoing Ashes.
Tim David, whose hamstring injury curtailed his BBL, and Josh Hazlewood, who missed the entire Ashes due to hamstring and Achilles problems, are also considered pending full recovery.
Due to Mitchell Starc’s retirement from Twenty20 Internationals and Spencer Johnson’s injury, Dwarshuis, a left-arm seamer for the Sydney Sixers, is a crucial absence from the team. The last pace-bowling spot has been taken by Xavier Bartlett.
“The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present,” national selector George Bailey said.
“Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup. This is a preliminary squad so should changes need to be made they will ahead of the support period.”